I was on the floor on the inside of the xcel and you can see my pictures here. I have video I’ll edit and put up later.
Sean Ryan, my brother, was working on the outside and was apart of this journalism madness. Matt Rourk, and AP photographer got caught up in the riot had his camera completely destroyed and for some reason was detained by the police.
Here are three applications that allow you to search visually news, status updates, videos, pictures etc. in cool new ways.
PicLens lets you search for photos and videos in 3-D and in full screen. This web browser add-on makes it way easier to search for things with out paging through a website and its also makes it much more fun. Its like apple’s coverflow to another dimension. Once you download the add-on a blue box in the upper right corner will light up when a page is viewable with PicLens.
Digg labs web applications organize all the news items on Digg visually. With Digg Stack, the stories are bar graphs that get taller given the amount of Diggs, so you can watch stories grow. Digg Swarm creates circles around stories that get bigger as they are dugg. All of these applications can be accessed online or used as a screensaver.
Twittervision and Flickrvision allow you to see what people are seeing and saying in real time around the world. Using google maps or a 3-D map this program shows you exactly where tweets and photos are coming from. It can get addicting. You can view it on a browser or download the screensaver. They also have a local version that only shows what is going on in your specific area. There is no way I know of to see only my friends on the map and have multiple tweets or photos up at a time. I imagine these programs will get cooler and developed as GPS is becoming more common in cell phones.
The other day I did an experiment using the program Soundslides. I wanted to test their tagline, “ridiculously simple storytelling.” So, I grabbed photos off flickr, wrote a script, recorded myself and then threw them into this program. I gave myself two hours and surprisingly enough, it was finding the photos online that took the most time. Click on the photo below to see what I came up with.
In the People of Praise, folks always talk about ways to be more present to each other. Being a mass communication major, I’m interested in how people can be more present to more people, especially those far away. To add to this, I want to find a way to communicate to a lot with a minimal amount of production time. The rule of thumb for video is an hour of editing for a minute of film. People simply don’t have that time. People can write magazines and write blogs to become more present to others but, believe me you’re probably the 1 in 10 that actually read this paragraph instead of just clicking the link above. People aren’t reading things. On the flip side, people do have time to take pictures and they like watching videos. So not only do I think that soundslides is something simple enough to make, but its also cool enough to watch. I’d like to know what others think. Is this an efficient method of communication? What are the possibilities?
The Department of Transportation was very deliberate about the design of the St. Anthony Falls Bridge (the new 35w). They tried to make it far more than just safe, even though with good reason that was their top priority. In the Mn/DOT press release they say, “We will build a bridge for the future that will be a source of pride for Minnesotans.” So, in other words, they are not just making any ol’ bridge.
In the press release they also say they have designed a “bridge that fits well in the environment.” But, I guess I missed how a futuristic white bridge (hence the storm trooper) fits in with the sand stone arched and suspension bridges surrounding it or how it fits in with the surrounding neighborhoods.
In the press release, they also mention that they have hired the “most awarded bridge designers and builders in the country.” They seriously wanted to make this a beautiful bridge and they did not intend to make a “causeway.” They even have a theme: Arches, Water, Reflection. My friend Dan had a post which bluntly sums up to say: the bridge is just a bridge, so stop complaining! However, if people don’t like the design, they have some legitimate concern because its not supposed to merely get your car across the water, its supposed to be attractive, suiting its surroundings and commemorating the victims. And if it doesn’t do all that, it didn’t accomplish a lot of what they set out to do.
As you enter and exit the bridge, there will be abstract monuments remembering the bridge collapse. What a better way to remember the victims, driving 70 mph yelling at the car that just cut you off. I really like what they are doing with the river-front and the observational platforms (anything would be an improvement down there). But, I think the monuments would make a lot more sense down on the water, a place where people can walk and spend time overlooking the river and skyline.
On a positive note, I love the suspension walking bridge that would hang under the main bridge and the arched lights. However, its not clear if these are really going to happen.
To sum up my thoughts, the bridge looks a bit odd especially given all the money and thought put into it. I agree with the Professors I talked to at the College of Design at the U of M in feeling the design looks a bit rushed (which is pretty understandable). The only real design elements are awkward pillars of the future or gradient blue pillars that might match perfectly with a new IKEA but not match with the muddy Mississippi rapids. However, I do like what they are doing with the landscape around the bridge area and they definitely get an A+ for safety (and given my engineering background, that’s saying a lot).
As far as the bridge being a source of pride, I don’t particularly want Minneapolis to be know for the bridge collapse, but I do see this as a great opportunity to create a beautifully designed city center. Minneapolis has put a lot of emphasis on architecture and design as of late and I would like to see that continue. Why not make the bridge a portrait of what the city prides itself on such as lakes, culture, art, and design, etc. (within a reasonable budget). And seeing thousands cross the bridge everyday, what a great place to communicate this concern for public places and design. Take a look at the short video touring Minneapolis’s architecture (library, walker art center etc.) guided by U of M architecture and design Professor John Comazzi, who I worked with this summer.
By TJ Ryan
Bob Dylan has been known throughout his career to be a very reserved and mysterious person. Either hiding behind his famous black glasses or toying with interviewers, it’s has been very difficult for people to hear what Dylan really thinks. This aspect of his character is partly what makes the man so intriguing. As soon as anyone figures him out, Dylan is redefining himself again. A great example was when he was labeled as the “king of folk music, ” and he busted out the electric guitar much to the audience at Newport Folk Festivals distaste.
Once again, Dylan is surprising listeners when he announced on April 19th that he would be on the other side of the mic as he hosts his own XM radio show. The first episode of “Theme Time Radio Hour with Your Host Bob Dylan” will air on May 3rd.
Each show’s play list will follow a specific theme. For example the first show is devoted to the weather. Playing songs like “The Wind Cries Mary” by Jimi Hendrix and “Keep on the Sunny Side” by The Carter Family, among many others. Song lists for future episodes will be built around themes such as “cars,” “dance,” “police,” and “whiskey.”
The show’s press release ends saying, “With ‘Theme Time Radio Hour’ Bob redefines ‘cool radio’ by combining a sense of intellect with edginess in a way that hasn’t been on radio before,” said Lee Abrams, chief creative programming officer, XM Satellite Radio. “Bob has put a lot of work into his XM show and it’s clear that he’s having a good time behind the mic.” Each week the show will feature an eclectic mix of music based around a theme, and Dylan will offer stories about the music and topics of interest. Dylan also will read and answer select emails which is a long awaited opportunity for his fans. Also, “Theme Time Radio Hour” will feature contributions from special guests such as famous musicians and comedians.
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